Minor girl raped during eye operation

RAWALPINDI – A six-year-old girl, daughter of an army man from Haripur, was allegedly raped by unknown men during eye operation at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital (ASETH), informed police here on Saturday.

A rape case against unknown rapists has been lodged with Police Station Morgah on the complaint of father of victim girl while samples of the victim were also sent to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) for DNA Test, police added. However, further investigation is on. On the other hand, the high-ups of ASETH were unaware about the horrific incident.Nauman, the Moherer at PS Morgah, sharing the details of FIR with TheNation, said Saleem Akhter son of Fazal Elahi, hails from Haripur, lodged a complaint with PS Morgah officials that he brought her daughter in ASETH for one eye operation that was conducted successfully.

He said that the doctor asked him to bring back the patient again on March 14, 2013 which he obeyed but the doctors set March 15 for second eye operation. He added that the girl was admitted and has undergone surgery but he received her daughter after one hour with bleeding to her private part (lower intestinal region). He stated that he informed the hospital administration but none of them paid heed to his apathy then he shifted her daughter to Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH) where doctors did medical and declared that the girl was raped. As her medical examination confirmed rape, a case was registered under section 376 against unknown men, Nauman said.When approached ASI Muhammad Aslam Shahid, the investigation officer, confirmed the incident, saying the girl was allegedly raped but police sent her samples to BBH for DNA Test. Action would be taken after the report of doctor, he added.

When asked if police have been filed case on the report of FFH, he replied police would rely on BBH reports. He said that it was also suggested during investigation that the girl had the bleeding problem since long.SP Potohar Town Haroon Joya, during a chat, said that the girl was allegedly raped and police were probing the matter and would take action against the responsible. Replying a query, he said that FFH reports had no worth for police as BBH was the concerned hospital of PS Morgah.“I did not hear about it. It is very obnoxious thing that a six-year-old girl was raped in hospital,” said ASTEH President Lt General Hamid Javed, when rang up by this scribe on his cell to know his point of view.“Who actually did inform you about the case?” General asked this scribe. When told police filed a case in this regard and General’s version was sought by this scribe, he replied “I don’t know who told you and what told you. I don’t know who you are (this scribe). You are talking to me on phone. I will check from hospital and the authorities concerned would respond to media”.

Despite complete introduction given by this scribe, General Hamid Javed refused to respond to further queries.When contacted, Brig (retd) Rizwan Ullah said that the incident was in his knowledge but was wrongly reported to police. A three-member inquiry board was also constituted headed by a Colonel with a doctor and chief nurse of the ward, where the girl was kept after operation.He said that a lady doctor Dr Saima had operated Aqsa on March 15 at 10am and handed over to her mother. He said that at that time the girl was all right and not such complaint was lodged. In the night, he said, the mother of the girl reported the doctor after seeing the girl was suffering with bleeding. Upon asking, the mother told the doctors that it was her case history the bleeding was occurred from her rectum.

On this the ASETH shifted the girl to FFH where doctor examined the girl and declared it a rape case. However, she suggested the staff to take the girl to BBH for further investigation. He said that he himself met with Saleem Akhter, an ex-armyman that nothing such has happened. However, the matter is being probed, the Brigadier added.